Beijing toughens enforcement on fireworks ban

BEIJING — Beijing will toughen enforcement on lighting fireworks in the city proper during the weeklong Chinese New Year Festival holiday this year, local authorities said on Feb 8.

The city’s law enforcement at different levels and security guards at residential quarters will join the campaign against setting off fireworks in the city proper of the national capital, according to Beijing municipal fireworks safety and management authorities.

Beijing in December passed a regulation that bans fireworks within the Fifth Ring Road of the city in light of heavy air pollution and casualties caused by playing fireworks in recent years.

The year 2018 will be the Year of Dog, which will begin on Feb 16, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Chinese often celebrate with fireworks at the Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, which is the most important traditional festival for people of Chinese origin.

Authorities say during the Spring Festival holiday season, as many as 75,000 boxes of fireworks will be sold in 87 designated outlets, down 82.97 percent from a year ago.

Beijing has also confiscated 14,000 boxes of illegal fireworks since October 2017.